On September 7, 2022, our union led thousands of educators nationwide in a historic sector shutdown, demanding government action to address the early education workforce crisis. The action highlighted the need for fair pay, recognition, and prioritisation of children’s wellbeing over profit.
On September 7, 2022, thousands of early childhood educators who were members of our union across Australia took unprecedented nationwide action to “Shut Down the Sector.” This powerful action aimed to confront the workforce crisis in early education, where low wages, severe understaffing, and high burnout have left educators overburdened and undervalued. There were rallies in every state capital and many regional centres, with an estimated 70,000 families impacted by the closure of over 1,000 centres as educators and their communities demanded reform. This was the largest early education action Australia had ever seen, drawing significant public attention to the critical role of early childhood education as part of the broader education system. Educators and supporters called on the government to pay educators fairly, recognise early education as essential, and prioritise childrens needs over corporate profits. EducatorsÕ action highlighted the long-standing issues within the sector, where profits often outweigh quality care and education, and workforce shortages endanger both educators and children. It underscored the need for systemic change, amplifying the voices of educators and advocating for a sustainable model that values early education as the foundation of childrenÕs development. By shutting down the sector, educators put early learning on the nationÕs agenda and laid the foundation for real change.
“Every day I see colleagues taking work home, purchasing resources from their own pockets and exhausting themselves to try to give quality education and care. The system is failing all of us.” Ð Maddy Calcraft, Early Childhood Educator, Tasmania